Planter



Sept. 29, 1942. c. H. WHITE 2,297,642

PLANTER Filed Dec. 1, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l I so 3 49 5| so 3| 510. 45 332 28 29 w N I e m I v 26 27 6825 I W p2 \1 L\ 1' a I? |8 INVENTOR:

CHARLES H. WHITE Sept. 29, 1942.

7 Filed Dec. 1, 1938 c. H. WHITE 2,297,642

PLANTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: CHARLES H. WHITE Patented Sept. 29,1942 PLANTER Charles H. White, Moline, Ill., assignor-to Deere &Company, MolinejIlL, a corporation of Illinois Application December 1,1939, Serial No. 307,132

26 Claims.

The present invention relates generally. to planting mechanisms and moreparticularly to equipment for planting unshelled peanuts.

The object and general nature of this invention is the provision of astationary bottom ring for the hopper of a planter and a rotary seedplate,

both specially formed so as to handle unshelled ing the peanutslengthwise so that they drop into the seed cells aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the peanuts extending generally periph- 'erally.The spiral shaped ridges on the seed plate serve as means gently forcingthe peanuts radially outwardly toward the seed cells, and the scallopededge of the bottom ring exert an action on the peanuts tending toprevent bridging and to turn the peanuts so that'they drop lengthwiseinto the seed cells; Further, the vertical reciprocatory action of thepeanuts in the bottom portion of the seed can, caused by the movement ofthe mass of peanuts along the upwardly facing scalloped edge of thebottom ring works trash, such as stalks, stems, and the like, to the topof the peanuts, thereby preventing any interference with the plantingoperation.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of an improvedcut-ofi which will not injure the peanuts. Preferably, the cut-off ofthe present invention is in the nature of a spring;

steel wire disposed generally in ahorizontal plane just above the seedcells and during the rotation of the seed plate the wire cut-ofi servesthe purpose of sweeping aside any peanuts lying on top of the peanut inthe seed cells, preventing more than one peanut from passing through theseed cell into the seed delivery opening, and acting to hold any peanutor peanuts, which may "get endwise vertically into a seed cell,

against the radially inner wall or edge of the seed i cell, so as toprevent the endwise disposed peanuts from dropping down and becomingjammed or crushed between an end of a seed cell and a wall of the seeddelivery opening in the base. It is a further feature of this inventionto provide a particular form of seed cell for facilitating the movementof the peanuts over filled seed cells until they come to an unfilledcell. It is also a feature of this invention to provide improvedplanting means for unshelled peanuts, particularly adapted to be usedwith cotton and corn planters of the convertible type, the presentunshelled peanut plantingmeans being especially adapted for operationwith certain of the. cotton and corn planting means, particularlyplanting mechanisms of the type having a picker wheel utilized inplanting cotton and other linty seed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent to those'skilled in the art after a consideration of the.following detailed description of the preferred structural embodiment,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating thepreferred embodiment.

i In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the hopper, with the cover removed, of acotton and corn planting mechanism, showing the same with the cotton andcorn plates removed and ready for the reception of my improved peanutplantingmeans;

' Figure 2 is a view, similar to Figurel, showing my improved unshelledpeanut planting equipment;

Figure 3 is a section taken generally along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, showingthe'bottom ring or peanut plate supporting member;

Figure5 is a fragmentary "section taken generally along the line 55 ofFigure 2, showing the method of anchoring the bottom ring to the hopperbase;

Figure 6 is a fragmentarytop view showing the guiding groove leadinginto the seed delivery opening of the bottom ring; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective View. partly in section, of theseed plate, showing in particular the spiral shaped ridges thereon.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the plantingmechanism with which my invention is associated and forms apart thereofwhen planting unshelled peanuts includes a hopper l comprising a hopperbase 2 and seed can 3 of more or less conventional construction. Thehopper base 2 is provided with pairs of lugs 5 and 6, by which thehopper may be secured to any suitable supporting framework (not shown),and bearing brackets 8 and 9 in which a seeding shaft I0 is supportedforrotation. The central portion of the hopper bottom 2, as indicated at12, carries an upwardly extending pivot memshaft ID. The pinion includesa gear section 2| which is adapted to be connected to any suitablesource of power for actuating the planting mechanism. The outer end ofthe shaft l outside of the gear 2| is received in a bearing boss 22. Theother end of the shaft H! has fixed thereto a cotton seed picker wheel24 which extends upwardly along one wall of a cotton seed deliveryopening 25 formed in the hopper bottom 2. This portion of the hopperbottom 2 is extended, as at 26, to form a shelf upon which a slide gate21 is disposed. The gate 21 carries an ear 28 in which an adjusting bolt29 is disposed, the threaded end of the latter extending outwardlythrough a smooth opening in an upstanding lug portion 3| of the shelf orbracket 26. A nut 32 is screwed onto the threaded end of the adjustingbolt and a spring 33 is disposed between the lug 2| and the ear 28. Thepurpose of the slide gate 21 is to adjust the effective width of theopening 25 and is used when the planting mechanism is arranged forplanting cotton seed. The seed can 3 is secured to the hopper bottom 2in any desired manner, as by being seated in shoulders 35 formed aroundthe major portion of the hopper bottom 2, parts of the can 3 being bentover therebetween to secure the two hopper parts 2 and 3 together. Atits lower portion, the seed can 3 is provided with an inwardly disposedbead 36 for the purpose of making seed-tight contact with parts of theplanting mechanism that is carried in the hopper bottom, whereby thediameter of such parts may be some smaller than the diameter of the can3 itself so that no diificulty will be experienced in placing andremoving such parts from the top of the can.

As mentioned above, the present invention is particularly concerned withplanters of the type that can be converted from a cotton seed planter toa corn planter, such as is disclosed in the patent to Charles E. White,1,512,256, October 21, 1924, to which reference may be made if desired.When planting corn, a suitable corn plate (not shown) is disposed overand connected with the gear I6 and is supported upon a plate or ring,indicated in Figure 3 by the reference numeral 40. This ring seats in agroove 4| formed in the hopper base 2 and is reversible, for thepurposes set forth in the above patent. The corn plate supporting member4|) is provided with a seed delivery opening 43 which is maintained inregistration with a corn delivery opening or spout (not shown) formed inthe hopper bottom 2. The corn plate support 40 is secured to the hopperbottom 2 against rotation in the groove 4| by any suitable manner, as bya pair of lugs 42 (Figure 1), the plate 40 being reversible from oneposition to the other to plant corn or cotton, respectively, theposition of the plate 40 shown in Figure 3 being that in which cottonnormally is planted. When planting cotton or other linty seeds, a cottonspider or agitating member having a series of peripheral teeth ismounted for rotation above the plate 46 in a position to cover the seeddelivery opening 43 therein and to bring cotton seed into contact withthe picker wheel 24 which engages the cotton seed and removes it fromthe mass within the hopper. The quantity of cotton seed taken out by thepicker wheel may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the slide gate2?. The cotton spider and the corn plate are each provided with meansmaking a driving connection with the gear l6. This means may take anysuitable form, but preferably the enlarged hub section 45 of the gear I6is provided with one or more recesses 46 in which a lug or lugs, carriedby the cotton spider and the corn plate, are adapted to engage. Thus,when the shaft I6 is rotated and the picker wheel 24 driven, the gear I6is also driven through the pinion l1, and hence the cotton spider plateis also driven, likewise the corn plate in the event the latter takesthe place of the cotton spider. To hold the plate, whichever one isemployed, in place the pivot bushing I3 is provided with a centralthreaded part 46 which receives a thumb screw 43. The latter serves tohold a seed plate retainer 5| against the associated seed plate so thatthe latter, the lugs of which engage in the driving recesses 46, rotatesat all times with the gear I6.

The means for adapting the above described mechanism to the planting ofunshelled peanuts will now be described. A bottom ring and cutoff plate,indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 66, is mounted instationary position on the hopper bottom and is provided With a radiallyinwardly extending flange or ledge 62 and an upwardly extending flange63, joined together at the radially outer edge of the ledge 62. A peanutdelivery opening 64 is formed partially in the radially outer portion ofthe ledge 62 and the lower part of the vertical flange 63, as best shownin Figure 3. The bottom ring 60 is provided with a series of lugs 66which rest on the seed plate supporting ring 46. The lugs 66 are ofsufficient length to raise the ledge 62 above the cotton seed pickerwheel 24 so that when the peanut delivery opening 64 is registered withthe cotton seed delivery opening 25 (Figure 3) there is sufficientclearance between the picker wheel 24 and the bottom ring to preventinterference, it being understood that when planting unshelled peanuts,the cotton picker wheel 24 merely rotates as an idle element, yet byvirtue of the above-described support of the bottom ring, it is notnecessary to remove the picker wheel when changing from a cotton planterto a peanut planter. The bottom ring 66 is held against rotation bymeans shown best in Figure 5. At each end of the peanut dischargeopening 64 the bottom ring 6|] carries a pair of spaced lugs 68 whichare adapted to extend down into the cotton seed delivery opening 25.Thus, the lugs 68 not only prevent the bottom ring 66 from rotating but,in addition, hold the peanut delivery opening 64 in alignment with thecotton seed delivery opening 25. Figure 5 also shows a peanut guidingchannel II which has its depth increased in the direction of rotation ofthe pea nut plate, described below, and leads into the peanut deliveryopening 64.

The peanut plate is best shown in Figures 2 and '7 and is indicated inits entirety by the reference numeral '75. The plate 15 is a shallowconical member having a central opening 16 and a plurality of teeth 11spaced about the periphery of the plate 15, forming seed cells 18. Theplate I5 is also provided with driving lugs 19. A plurality of generallyradially extending spiral shaped ridges 8| extend radially outwardlyfrom the central opening 16 to the outer edge of the plate 15. Betweenthe ridges or ribs 8|, the surface of the plate 15 is generally conical.The plate normally rotates in the direction of the arrow shown inFigures 2 and '7. Each tooth or lug TI is beveled, as at 84, at itsupper rear corner, and the radially inner wall of each seed cell 16 isbeveled, as at 86, in the manner shown, the bevels 84, 86 joining theribbed section 8| in the manner best shown in Figure 7.

Referring again to the hopper bottom ring 69, it will be seen fromFigures 2, 3 and 4 that the upwardly facing edge or surface of thevertical flange 63 is of irregular formation, being in the form ofscallops or undulations, as indicated at 9|. The scallops adjacent andabove the peanut delivery opening 64 are somewhat higher than the otherportions of the ring, this being for the purpose of providing additionalmaterial at this point so as to have the requisite strength tocompensate for the disposition of the peanut delivery opening 64 at thispoint. The higher undulations or scallops are indicated by the referencenumeral 9|a. Also, certain of the scallops or undulations are omittedand in lieu thereof a pair of lugs 94 are provided. Each lug 94 isapertured in a circumferential direction for the purpose of receiving aspring wire cutoff and knocker, indicated in its entirety by thereference numeral 95. The wire 95 has an end 96 which is bent generallyat right angles, best shown in Figure 2, and the wire is normallycurved. The ring 80 is provided with a small recess 98 into which theend 96 is adapted to move when the spring wire cut-off 95 is forcedthrough the openings in the lugs 94. Once the end 96 snaps into therecess 98, the spring wire member 95 is held in position. As best shownin Figures 3 and 4, the wire 95 is disposed substantially in a verticalplane just above the seed cells and, in general, lies above the aligneddischarge or delivery openings 64 and 25, as shown in Figure 3. (Figure4) is formed to have a slight downward bend, as indicated at 91, to aidin knocking or forcing the peanuts out of the seed cells during therotation of the seed plate 15.

The operation of my improved planting mechanism is substantially asfollows. 7

When it is desired to plant unshelled peanuts, the cotton or corn platesand associated parts are removed from the hopper and the cotton gate 2!moved outwardly substantially to the limit."

First the hopper bottom ring 69 is then seated against the bottom orbase 2, with the lugs 68 at each side of the peanut delivery opening 64extending into the hopper base seed delivery opening 25, thereby holdingthe hopper bottom ring 69 against rotation. From Figure 3 it will beseen that the lugs 66, which as best shown in Figures 3 and 4, extenddownwardly from the radially inner portion of the ledge 62 of the ring69, support the latter on the false ring or corn plate supporting member49 a distance above the upper portion of the cotton seed picker wheel 24sufficient so that the bottom ring 60 clears the picker wheel. It willalso be noted that the peanut delivery opening 64 of the bottom ring Bilis disposed above and to the outer side of the picker wheel 24. Thelatter does not have any particular function during the peanut plantingoperation, but by virtue of the relations just described, it is notnecessary to remove the picker wheel 24 when changing over from a cottonor corn planter to a peanut planter.

The bottom ring 69 fits substantially against the seed can bead 36, andpreferably the bottom ring 69 is formed with a shoulder, indicated at69a, which fits over the bead and brings the undulatory scallops 9| abit closer to the wall of the seed can 3.

After the bottom ring 69 has been mounted At this end the spring wire 95ledge 62- ofthe bottom ring 69. associated teeth or lugs 11 are slippedunderneath the free end of the wire 95 and then the seed plate 15bottoms in the bottom ring 69, the driving lugs 19 on the seed plateengaging in the driving recesses 46 formed in the gear l5. Next the seedplate retainer 5| is placed over the central portion of the seed plate15, the seed plate retainer 5| having a central section 5|.a whichenters the central opening 16 in the seed plate 15, thereby centeringthe latter. The thumb screw 49 is then inserted through the central holein the seed plate retainer 5| and threaded into the bushing or spindle|3 which is fixed to the central portion l2 of the hopper base or spider2. The planting mechanism is then ready for operation in the field. Thehopper 3 is then filled with seed peanuts and the power applied to thegear 2|. The rotation of the latter drives the pinion I! which, in turn,rotates the gear l6 and the seed plate 15 connected therewith. Duringthe rotation of the seed plate, the spiral shaped ribs 8| cause agentlebut gradual movement of the peanuts in contact with the plate radiallyoutwardly toward the seed cells therein. At the same time, the mass ofpeanuts resting on or supported by the seed plate 15, are also given arotational movement. Now it will be remembered that the bottom ring 69,with the scalloped edge 9| is stationary. Therefore, during the rotationof the peanuts in the lower portion of the hopper, the peanuts are givena gentle but continuous vertical oscillation as the lower peanuts rideover the undulatory surface presented by the scalloped edge 9|. Thereis, therefore, a gentle up and down movement of the peanuts whichserves,

first, to work trash, stems and the like to the top of the seed, andsecond, to cooperate with the rotary plate 15 to prevent peanuts frombridging across the seed cells instead of entering the same. As will bereadily understood, any peanut that lies crosswise of the seed cell willhave one end supported on the scalloped edge 9| while the other endengages the rotary plate; therefore, there will be a tendency for therotation of the plate to swing the crosswise peanut longitudinally withrespect to the periphery of the plate, thereby facilitating the entry ofthe peanut into the nearest unfilled seed cell.

As the filled seed cell approaches the seed delivery opening in. thehopper bottom ring 69 during the rotation of the seed plate 15, thegroove H permits the peanut to settle downwardly in the seed cell and ina position to fall through the opening 64. The spring wire cut-offprevents another peanut from entering the cell when the first drops outthrough the seed delivery opening. If for any reason the peanut does notimmediately discharge from the cell, the bent portion 91 of the springwire 95 serves as a knocker to eject the peanut from the cell before thelatter passes beyond the seed delivery opening.

It will be noted that the beveled edges 84 and 86 are disposed on theadvancing side of the lugs 11, or at the rear end of the seed cells 18.This particular formation is of especial utility in facilitating themovement of the peanut from one cell to another when some of the cellsare filled and the peanut cannot enter them. That is to say, if as theseed plate rotates a peanut approaches a cell that is already filled,the beveled edges 84 and 86 make it easy for the peanut to be 7 moved ont the next cell, etc., until. it finds one in position the peanut plate15 is placed on the To do this the that is not filled. If a peanutshould enter an unfilled cell in a vertical position, instead oflongitudinally, and remain in that position as it approaches thedischarge or seed delivery opening, there is some possibility that thepeanut, thus vertically disposed, might become jammed in between thetooth or lug Tl behind it and the edge of the seed delivery opening. Inorder to prevent this, the spring wire 95 is arranged to be resilient ina horizontal direction, with the result that when a peanut in a verticalposition reaches the wire, the latter urges the peanut against theradially inner wall 85 of the associated seed cell, thus holding thepeanut and preventing it from dropping down and getting in between thelug and the end of the seed delivery opening. By the time the peanutagain reaches the discharge opening, the resistance of the peanuts abovewill cause the peanut to align itself horizontally in the seed cell; ifnot, the spring wire 95 again prevents the peanut from falling down intothe seed delivery opening.

While I have shown and described above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have been embodied, it is to beunderstood that my invention is not to be limited to the particulardetails shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely differentmeans may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of myinvention.

What I claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Planting mechanism comprising a rotatable seed plate, and astationary ring surrounding said seed plate and having an undulatorysurface facing substantially directly upwardly for imparting verticalmovements to the seed during rotation of the seed plate.

2. Planting mechanism comprising a seed can, a rotatable seed platemounted therein and having a plurality of seed cells around theperiphery of the plate, and a stationary ring surrounding said plateradially outwardly of said seed cells and having an irregular surfacefacing substantially directly upwardly and serving to align the seedwith the seed cells during rotation of the plate relative to said ringand forming the sole retarding means, other than said seed can, for saidseed, the vertical dimension of said ring varying to provide saidirregular surface.

3. Planting mechanism comprising a rotatable seed plate against whichthe seed bear, said plate having generally radially extending ridges onits upper surface whereby the rotation of the plate tends to rotate themass of seed resting above the plate, and stationary means comprising aring member disposed radially outwardly of the seed plate and having anirregular undulatory surface for imparting generally vertical movementto the radially outer portions of the seed mass during rotation of theplate.

4. Planting mechanism comprising a hopper having a bottom, the latterhaving a seed discharge opening therein, a rotatable seed platesupported movably on the hopper bottom and having a plurality of seedcells disposed around the periphery of said plate, a stationary ringdisposed loosely in the hopper bottom below and radially outwardly ofsaid seed plate, said ring having a seed discharge opening disposed in aposition underneath the seed cells, means on the tion, and a cut-offwire anchored at one end to said stationary ring and extending generallycircumferentially and radially inwardly over said seed plate above saidaligned openings in the ring and the hopper bottom.

5. In a planting mechanism, a stationary ring member having a generallyradially inwardly extending plate receiving flange and a generallyaxially upwardly extending flange, the upper edge of which is ofirregular formation, said radially inwardly extending flange having aseed discharge opening in the side adjacent said upwardly extendingflange, and a spring wire cut-ofi member anchored to said upwardlyextending flange and having a seed ejecting portion disposed above saidseed discharge opening and below the upper irregular edge of saidupwardly extending flange.

6. In a planting mechanism, a stationary ring member having a generallyradially inwardly extending plate receiving flange and a generallyaxially upwardly extending flange, the upper edge of which is ofirregular formation, said radially inwardly extending flange having aseed discharge opening in the side adjacent said upwardly extendingflange, and a pair of locating lugs formed on the under surface of theradially extending flange generally at the ends of said seed dischargeopening.

'7. In a planting mechanism, a stationary seed agitating ring comprisingan annular member having a radially inwardly extending flange and agenerally axially extending flange joined to the radially outer portionsof said first mentioned flange, the upper edge of said axially extendingflange being irregular in form, said ring having a seed dischargeopening formed partially in said radially extending flange and partiallyin the adjacent part of said axially extending flange, the latter havinga greater axial dimension adjacent said seed discharge opening.

8. The combination with a planting mecha nism comprising a seed holdingdevice having a base plate structure provided with a seed dischargeopening and a toothed picker wheel extending upwardly to and mounted forrotation in said opening, of a stationary annular member having a seedplate receiving ledge and a seed discharge opening, and means forsupporting said .annular member on said base plate structure above saidpicker wheel with said openings in at least approximate alignment.

9. The combination with a planting mechanism comprising a seed holdingdevice having a base plate structure provided with a seed dischargeopening, a toothed picker wheel extending upwardly through and mountedfor rotation in said opening, and means for driving said picker wheel,of a stationary annular member having a seed plate receiving ledge and aseed discharge opening, means for holding said annular member againstrotation, means for supporting said annular member on said base platestructure above said picker wheel with said openings in at leastapproximate alignment, a rotatable seed plate supported on said ledge,and means for driving said seed plate from the means that drives saidpicker wheel.

10. In a planter, the combination of a hopper, a base plate at the lowerend of the hopper and having an exit opening communicating with theinterior of the hopper, a rotary seed plate fitting upon the base plateand provided with seed cells for successive communication with said exitopening, and a spring wire sweep serving as a cutoff and curvingradially inwardly and circumferentially in the direction of rotation ofsaid seed plate over said seed cells thereof in a generally horizontalplane, one end of the-wire being fixed to the hopper and the mainportion of the wire extending from said fixed end in said horizontalplane so as not to interfere-with rotary movement of the seed in thehopper.

11. Planting mechanism for unshelled peanuts,

' comprising a hopper, a base member at the lower end thereof having apeanut delivery opening, a rotary peanut plate fitting upon said basememher and provided with seed cells receiving peanuts and adapted tocommunicate successively with said delivery opening, and a spring wiresweep lying substantially in a horizontal plane and having an enddisposed just above the seed cells and a resilient against outwardmovement radially of said rotary seed plate, said sweep extendinggenerally circumferentially of the seed plate in the direction ofmovement of the latter, with its outer end portion curving radiallyinwardly to a point adjacent the radially inner portions of the seedcells, whereby said wire sweep serves to resiliently press a peanut thatis disposed vertically in one of the seed cells against the radiallyinner wall of said cell, thereby preventing said vertically disposedpeanut from dropping down partially into said delivery opening andbecoming jammed and crushed between the seed cell and said deliveryopening in the base.

12. In a planter, the combination of a seed carrying and deliveringdevice comprising a base having a seed delivery opening, and a toothedpicker wheel extending upwardly to and mounted for rotation in saidopening, of a stationary seed aligning ring member having a seeddelivery opening adapted to be aligned with said first opening and meansextending downwardly into the seed delivery opening in said base andalongside the picker wheel for holding said ring member in position onsaid base and preventing displacement of the seed by the picker wheel.

13. In a convertible cotton and corn planter having a base provided witha cotton seed delivery opening and a corn plate support disposedgenerally radially inwardly of said cottonseed delivery opening, thecombination therewith of unshelled peanut planting mechanism comprisinga stationary peanut plate supporting ring having a peanut deliveryopening adapted to be aligned with said cotton seed delivery opening,and means generally radially inwardly of said peanut discharge openingand engageable with said corn plate support generally radially inwardlyof said cotton seed discharge opening for supporting said ring on saidcorn plate support.

14. In a convertible planter, the combination with a base having acottonseed delivery opening, a cotton seed picker wheel rotatable in saidopening, and means for driving said picker wheel, of peanut plantingmeans comprising a stationary ring having a peanut delivery openingadapted to be aligned with said cotton seed delivery opening, means forsupporting said ring above said picker wheel, and a peanut platesupported on said ring driven from said picker Wheel driving means andarranged to discharge peanuts through said peanut delivery openingalongside said picker wheel and through said cotton seed deliveryopening.

15. A bottom ring for a planter, comprising a seed plate receivingsection and a generally vertically disposed section adapted to bedisposed adjacent said wire-receiving means, and a spring wire cut-offcarried by said wire-receiving means cess adjacent one of said lugs, anda spring wire cut-ofi' disposed in the apertures of said lugs and havingone end bent so that when said wire cutoff is inserted insaid aperturesand the bent end disposed in said recess, said .wire cut-off is anchoredto said flange.

. 17. In a planter, a stationary member adapted to receive a seedplate,a spring wire cut-oil for said plate, means carried by said member toreceive and support said wire cut-off, said means being apertured in agenerally circumferential direction and said wire cut-ofi being curved,

whereby said wire cut-off is held against rotation in said aperturedmeans, and a recessed section on said stationary member, one end of saidwire cut-off being bent so that when said wire cut-off is disposed insaid circumferentially apersively with said delivery opening, anda'resilient spring wire sweep anchored at one end to said base memberand having aportion lying substantially in a horizontal plane just abovethe seed cells, said portion extending generally circumradiallyoutwardly of the seed plate, wire receivferentially of said plate in thedirection of movement thereof and extending generally diagonallyinwardly across the path of movement of said seed cells, whereby apeanut that is disposed vertically in a seed cell will be engaged by thewire sweep and held against dropping out of the seed cell while inendwise vertical position.

19. Planting mechanism comprising the combination of a seed platesupport having a stationary part disposed radially outwardly of the seedplate and provided with a substantially directly upwardly facing surfaceof irregular wavelike contour extending above the adjacent portions ofthe seed plate, a rotatable seed plate having peripheral seed cells anda central section provided with ribs whereby rotation of said seed platecauses rotation of the mass of seeds above said plate, said ribs beingcurved backwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of saidplate whereby to impart, in addition to said rotation, a generallyradially outward movement of the seed toward said stationary part, thelatter serving to impart vertical agitation to the outer portions of themass of seed as the latter is rotated by the ribs on said plate, and aspring wire cut-off disposed just above the seed plate and lying in asubstantially horizontal plane so that it offers no material restrictionto the rotation of said mass of seed by said plate.

20. Planting mechanism comprising a hopper having a bottom, the latterhaving a seed discharge opening therein, a rotatable seed platesupported movably on the hopper bottom and having a plurality of seedcells disposed around 'ing means carried by said radially outer sectionthere being a recess in said last named section the periphery of saidplate, a stationary ring disposed in the hopper bottom below andradially outwardly of said seed plate, said ring having a seed dischargeopening disposed in a position underneath the seed cells, and a cut-offwire anchored at one end to said stationary ring and extending generallycircumferentially and radially inwardly over said seed plate above saidaligned openings in the ring and the hopper bottom.

21. In a planting mechanism, a stationary ring member having a portionwith a seed discharge opening and a generally upwardly extending flange,the upper edge of which is of irregular formation, and a spring wirecut-off member anchored to said upwardly extending flange and having aseed ejecting portion disposed above said seed discharge opening andbelow the upper irregular edge of said upwardly extending flange.

22. In a planting mechanism, a stationary ring member having a generallyradially inwardly ex-, tending plate receiving flange and a generallyaxially upwardly extending flange, said radially inwardly extendingflange having a seed discharge opening in the side adjacent saidupwardly extending flange, and a pair of locating, lugs formed on theunder surface of the rad ally extending flange generally at the ends ofsaid seed discharge opening.

23. Planting mechanism comprising the combination of a seed platesupport having a sta-, 30 tionary part disposed radially outwardly ofthe seed plate and provided with a substantially directly upwardlyfacing surface of irregular wavelike contour extending above theadjacent portions of the seed plate, a rotatable seed plate hav-;-

part vertical agitation to the outer portions of the mass of seed as thelatter is rotated by the ribs on said plate, and cut-off means disposedjust above the seed plate and lying in a substantially horizontal planeso that it offers no material restriction to the rotation of said massof seed by said plate.

24. In a planting mechanism, a rotary seed plate of the type having seedcells adapted to receive seed lengthwise therein, and a stationary ringmember having a generally axially directed flange extending upwardlyabove the edge of said plate, the upper surface of said flange being ofgenerally wave-like formation, whereby seed moved along said surface bythe rotation of said seed plate will be given a vertical movement andWill be worked lengthwise of the seed cells to facilitate the seedentering the cells while trash and the like will be worked upwardly.

25. In a planting mechanism, the combination of a base plate structure,means carried by the base plate structure and extending above thelatter, an annular member comprising a ring mounted on said base platestructure and having an axially upwardly extending flange and a radiallyinwardly extending flange, the latter having a plurality of supportinglugs extending from the side thereof for supporting said ring on saidbase plate structure above said upwardly extending means.

26. In a planting mechanism, a rotary seed plate having seed cellsadapted to receive seed therein, and a stationary ring member having agenerally axially directed flange extending upwardly above the edge ofsaid plate, the upper surface of said flange being of generally wavelikeformation, whereby seed moved along said :surface by the rotation ofsaid seed plate wi l be given a vertical movement to facilitate the seedentering the cells while trash and the like will be worked upwardly.

CHARLES H. WHITE.

